I went to the shops for the first time in ages today, and I think I inadvertently made an emotional commitment to buying a new Sonos Arc soundbar.

I’ve decided I need to do more writing for myself and my own pleasure. This little blog is a key part of that plan, but most days I find myself lost for ideas.

So a question: What is your writing ritual? What do you do to help you commit to composing prose regularly?

I didn’t even realise I had a shallow graze along the side of my thumb until I applied the hand sanitiser.

Then I knew. Oh, how I knew.

Yesterday was such a big day I’ve been little more than a vegetable today, lounging around without any energy. I would have loved to put Saturday on repeat, but I just don’t have it in me.

I used to think I would one day write a great novel, but these days I feel I’m probably not creative enough.

Then again, maybe that’s the burnout talking. Who knows what the coming years will bring?

Years ago I went on a tour of the Bundaberg Rum distillery. I came home with this barrel full of rum, but it was all absorbed into the wood or evaporated before I could drink it.

Now the barrel sits on a shelf drying out, unused.

Still looks good though.

This morning I woke to a complete blackout. No power at all. The kids couldn’t cook toast. My espresso machine was useless. My wife had to boil water in a saucepan on the gas stove to have her cup of tea. It wasn’t just us, either. The entire street was without electricity. Turns out … read more

I do not have the mental capacity today to try and find a creative way to include the word aluminium in a post. So you get this fairly lazy attempt instead.

I happily left Facebook and Instagram years ago. I want to leave Twitter too, but I just can’t stop myself from opening up that horrendous bird app to watch the implosion.

One of the recurring themes of this little writing experiment so far has been my coming to terms with my life as it is versus my life as I thought it might be. Or, put another way, I’ve been trying to answer the question: “Why have I been feeling like crap for so long? Is it the fact I’ve hit middle … read more

I’d consider becoming a politician if I could become the minister for self-doubt and procrastination. You’ve got to play to your strengths, right?

I am currently trying to migrate my morning coffee from a latte to a long black. Short blacks are just too intensely bitter for my taste. #coffee

I don’t care what you say I’m never calling it a “toot”.

I wish I was exempt from getting sick. I’ve been battling illness all week and it’s exhausting.

I must be getting old because I was feeling daunted and overwhelmed by the idea of signing up to Mastodon. But it was pretty easy in the end.

Damn, the whole Twitter situation is just live-action car crash TV, isn’t it? I can’t look away. I don’t want to see it, but I can’t look away. It’s horrific, but I just can’t look away.

So today forced me to think about my admiration list:

• My wife, who is always an inspiration
• Teachers, who give up so much of themselves for so little in return (we should fix that)
• Nurses, who do the same
• Paramedics, firefighters and those who risk their lives to help others

Parenting a teenager: A poem

At least we can feed the beast
Flour, water, sugar, and yeast
And he will think it a feast

My greatest achievement today was not throwing up. It took all of my energy to hold it in, but somehow, against all odds, I succeeded.

(Celebrating the small wins.)

Spent today scanning in old photos and now I want Sydney to host the Olympics again.